F. Anstey

“ I protest, for my own part, that as I am compelled to describe him springing from step to step in wild terror, like a highly respectable chamois before some Alpine marksman, my own heart bleeds for him, and I hasten to end my distressing tale, and make the rest of it as little painful as I may with honesty. ”

“ It doesn't at all follow that other people, who know nothing at all, will be as sharp; if you're more careful about your behaviour in future—unless, unless, young fellow——' and here he paused meaningly.
'Unless what?' asked Dick suspiciously.
'Unless I chose to tell them what I've found out.'
'What would you tell them?' said Dick.
'What? Why, what I know of this talisman; tell them to use their eyes; they wouldn't be very long before they found out that something was wrong. ”

“ But you can't take away a whole tipshy-cake!'
'I am quite sure you did your best,' murmured Paradine.
'Been having such gamesh upstairs!' said Dick, with another giggle. 'That lil' Dolly Merridew's jolly girl. Not sho nice as Dulcie, though. Why didn' we invite Dulcie? I wanted them to invite Dulcie. Here, you, let'sh go up and let off fireworksh on balcony, eh? Letsh have jolly lark!'
'No, no,' said his uncle. 'You and I are too old for that sort of thing. You should leave the larks to the young fellows.'
'How do you know I'm too old for sorterthing?' said Dick, with an offended air. ”

“ And, if you shay any more, I'll punch y' head!'
'No, no,' said his uncle, slightly alarmed at this intimation. 'Come, you're not going to quarrel with me, I'm sure!'
'All ri',' said Dick. 'No; I won' quarrel. Don' wanter quarrel anybody.'
'That's right,' said Paradine. 'I knew you were a noble fellow!'
'Sho I am,' said Dick, shaking hands with effusion. 'Sho are you. Nearly ash noble 'sh me. There, you're jolly good fellow. I say, I've goo' mind tell you something. Make you laugh. But I won't; not now.'
'Oh, you can tell me,' said Marmaduke. ”

“ What's good of shutting 'self in here? Come up and play gamesh. No? Come in and have shupper. I've had shupper.'
'So I perceive,' observed Uncle Marmaduke; and the fact was certainly obvious enough.
'Tell y'what I did,' giggled the wretched Dick. 'You know I never did get what I call regular good blow out—always some one to shay 'had quite 'nough' 'fore I'd begun. So I thought this time I would have a tuck-in till—till I felt tired, and I—he-he-he—I got down 'fore anybody elsh and helped myshelf. Had first go-in. No one to help to thingsh. No girlsh to bother. ”

“ After all, he's my governor.'
'Do what you like with him then, he can't do much harm. I tell you, I'll do all this, on one condition—it's a very simple one——'
'What is it?' asked Dick.
'This. You have, somewhere or other, the Stone that has done all this for you—you may have it about you at this very moment—ah!' (as Dick made a sudden movement towards his white waistcoat) 'I thought so! Well, I want that Stone. You were afraid to leave it in my hands for a minute or two just now ”